Testimonials

Developing Your Business Contacts and Relationships

“It is important to use the networking events and I can honestly say, they do make a difference, which is proved by the fact of the number of clients we invoiced last year.”

Francis Pledger – React Computer Partnership

“Chamber lunches are a friendly and relaxed opportunity to meet other Chamber members that ordinarily you would not, allowing you to establish and build upon useful relationships for the future. We have been fortunate enough to acquire new clients and have also engaged local suppliers through the same route.”

Paul Copsey - Auditel

“Chamber events offer great networking opportunities with a wide variety of like-minded business people in relaxed surroundings. There is never any ‘hard sell’ from anyone, and they really are a good way of developing business relationships. They are great value for money and have certainly helped to raise our profile in the area.”

Stephanie Stansfield – Dummett Copp LLP

"There are not many networking events that I attend so religiously as the Chamber’s Suffolk Business Women’s network. The wealth of education I have received; from social media to presentation skills, coupled with inspirational speakers, local female entrepreneurs and government leaders ensure the events stay high on my radar. Although not the primary reason for attending, I have also picked up several useful business leads. The group also provides an opportunity to catch up with current clients and hear how their businesses are doing. First-class."

Rechenda Smith, little green plane

“Age UK Suffolk has been a consistent member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and has benefitted in particular through the SCC events. Personally, as the Business Development Manager of the Suffolk Charity I regularly attend networking meetings such the Bildeston Christmas Hall evening, the John Grose Lowestoft launch, the shopping network meeting at M&S, and other opportunities as and when they arise.

“Attendance is always good, the organiser, Amanda Ankin, arranges the events most professionally. The varied mixture of attendees ensures stimulating discussions and, most importantly, useful links to individuals and organisations potentially helpful and useful supporters of my charity.

“In fundraising terms it is not necessarily what you know, but more often who you know and the Chamber’s events are helpful to open doors and getting that initial contact. I would highly recommend membership to others.”

Ursula Austin, Business Development Manager - Age UK Suffolk

Connecting You to Free Independent Support, Advice and Guidance

“Mentoring isn’t just a one way street –its very much a ‘win win’ situation as both parties benefit from the new business relationship in many ways, including actually doing business together and the referral of leads being exchanged!”

Christine Schofield – CPW Computing

“I have found the benefits to my business invaluable as I have made positive connections with many skilled and enthusiastic people, including my mentor, whose ideas and expertise have already been extremely helpful. I intend to continue to contribute to Suffolk Chamber Mentoring events as I believe that I am already seeing the fruits of the connections that I have made so far.”

Celia Bird – Hypnotherapy Associates

Developing Your Supply Chain

EDF Energy is working closely with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to ensure local businesses have a good opportunity to be involved in the new nuclear supply chain. Businesses in Suffolk should use this time to get fit for new nuclear through the excellent support the Chamber provides. We have greatly valued the support, advice and hard work the Chamber has undertaken.”

Tom McGarry – EDF Energy
www.sizewellcsupplychain.co.uk

“Having worked closely with the Suffolk Chamber for a number of years and having witnessed the development of Suffolk B2B, we would highly recommend its use as a means to identify local business opportunities. Through the use of this platform it recently enabled us to win the contract to refurbish the Suffolk Chamber’s own offices.”

Trevor Read – Malcolm Andrew Office Supplies

Marketing and Promoting Your Business

“I use the members' area of the Suffolk Chamber website frequently. It is really easy to use and I find it is great for advertising my upcoming events and posting latest news. It can cost a significant amount to purchase web presence to the level that you achieve with the Chamber as part of your membership, so it is definitely a huge member benefit.”

Donna Talbot –Ipswich Town Football Club

“Thanks to the Chamber for their advice on how we can, through our membership, publicise our company. We recently posted an article, which immediately appeared, as well as being included in the Chamber’s e-newsletter that goes to all members and their key contacts. This is an effective and ‘cost effective’ (it’s free!!) way of getting your business news stories out there. It keeps our company in the public eye. Through the Chamber I am sure React is now more widely known and has a more positive image. We get far more from our Chamber membership than we ever imagined.”

Francis Pledger – React Computer Partnership

Services to Benefit Your Bottom Line

“Chamber Utilities has saved Anupco 50% on their utility bills. £21,000 on its electricity bill over two years, and cut our gas bill by £22,000 as part of a new three-year contract negotiated by Chamber Utilities.”

Anupco Ltd - Hadleigh

“The Chamber’s Legal Advice Line, when called upon, has never failed to deliver positive results. I recommend membership of Suffolk Chamber as a must to all Suffolk businesses.”

Ian Shakespeare – Fire Risk Assessment Ltd

“Thank you for the telephone number for the free Chamber Legal Advice Line, the service was to a high standard and the call back time from the legal adviser was within five minutes. The answers to my questions were clear and precise and in layman terms easy to understand, if needed, I would certainly use this service again.”

Michael Read - Tastyfill Catering Ltd

"Just used legal helpline for the first time and their advice has justified my Chamber membership fee for the year, thank you!

Sarah Howard - Sarand Ltd

“Just to say thank you – we have just changed over to Chamber AXA PPP Healthcare, and saved £1,500.”

Daniel Staines – JMS Consulting Engineers Ltd

Getting Your Voice Heard

“EDF energy is working very closely with Suffolk Chamber, particularly in raising awareness of careers within engineering and the nuclear industry as a whole. The Chamber, as the voice of the Suffolk business community, gives us access to the key business leaders and decision makers in the County, invaluable for an organisation like our own, which needs to engage with stakeholders continually.”

Niki Spatchett – EDF Energy

“Within the last two years we have managed, via extensive discussion and public consultation, to change St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s local planning policy and, therefore, get planning consent on our Haverhill Research Park site, which will shape the future economic landscape of the town. Both Haverhill Chamber and ‘its parent’, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, have been integral to this process. Without their pro-active and very vocal support it would have been much harder to demonstrate we had the full backing of the business community.”

Nic Rumsey – Carisbrooke Investments

“Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has played an important role helping to shape local and regional transport priorities. Working as a member of the Chamber and through its Transport Committee has provided an influential route to lobby for improvements to the A14 and increase the capacity of the rail freight network.”

Paul Davey – Hutchinson Ports

Supporting Your Business

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help and support you have offered myself and The Best of Ipswich team in recent weeks. Until our meeting I was unaware of the full range of benefits that Suffolk Chamber has to offer.”

Kevin Barber – The Best of Ipswich

“You have been very helpful since our first meeting. The Chamber has opened many doors, the best being leads and links to Suffolk businesses. So just in case I forget, many thanks to the Chamber.”

David Driscoll – Homestead DPS

“I am just writing a quick note to thank you and your team for the excellent service Deben Diagnostics has received since being a member of Suffolk Chamber. We are in our second year of membership and are discovering more and more things the Chamber can offer.”

Stephen Hembling – Deben Diagnostics

“Thanks for your help. It’s great to have such a good explanation of the Chamber activities and support in accessing them. I'm sure there are several areas that will be of great assistance to me including the business lists available.”

Alan Todd - Action Coach

Enterprise Engagement Programme/b2b Mentoring

“This scheme provides real benefit for individuals requiring guidance or advice on starting a company, business or indeed when they are considering changing the direction of a current enterprise. In a number of instances, the mentoring programme has developed into the client asking for additional support and help outside the programme which my company has been able to provide.”

Mentor - Christopher Johnson, Meritas International and Consulting

“I have found that since starting the mentoring programme I have become much more comfortable with core areas of the business like managing my book-keeping and appreciating how important it is to being able to forecast and identify areas where we could be more efficient.”

Mentee - Ruth Cheesley, Virya Technologies

Being involved with EEP has been fantastic, not only from a networking point of view and for putting us in touch with the right people to develop our ideas, but also as a sounding board. It’s very daunting when you start out in business and it’s been really important for us to know that there are friendly and helpful people on the other end of the line to talk to.

Brigette Currin & Christine Hamilton - Elizabeth Valda Estates

Policy/Stakeholder Engagement

“Suffolk Chamber of Commerce does a pivotal job in bringing together communities and businesses for the good of the local economy. I am pleased that they are doing all they can to promote The Shared Community. This is the kind of project that Suffolk needs. Communities and business leaders know best how to strengthen the local economy.”

Matthew Hancock, MP

“The Shared Community Campaign led by Suffolk Chamber has enabled business leaders to inspire one another by sharing ideas and examples of community engagement, collaborating to overcome common hurdles and highlighting the benefits of engaging with the community such as improved employee morale and retention. This is the first stepping stone towards helping bring businesses and communities together to build a better future for our county.”

Dan Poulter, MP

Young Chamber

“I'm currently working, however, I also have a business which seems to be going from strength to strength. Much of what I have been able to achieve is thanks to what the Young Chamber taught me. It has really helped.

Chris Wait - Former President of Mildenhall College Young Chamber Council

“Young Chamber has been a positive force in the school in so many ways. It has enabled us to build productive links with local businesses who in turn have had the opportunity to meet and work with students who are future employees. The students have been able to develop a range of skills which will help them when they go to work. These include independent working, project management, personal responsibility and working to deadlines. Young Chamber has been a powerful tool in breaking down the barriers between education and work.”

Matt Bryant - Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College

International Trade

“If you are an active exporter, or an aspiring exporter, the Chamber’s Suffolk International Trade Group provides a great opportunity to meet new contacts, understand new markets and give you a sense of ease that you are not alone in the world of International Trade. Our company has made many long-term business acquaintances and the Chamber has been invaluable in helping us break into new overseas markets.”

David Redhead MD of BSP International Foundations Ltd